ZEST.htm

NR ZEST

AU Grandin,T.

TI Design of loading facilities and holding pens

QU Applied Animal Behavioural Science 1990; 28(1-2): 187-201

PT journal article

AB Holding pens and loading facilities are used in abattoirs, saleyards, stockyards, and sorting facilities. Long, narrow pens are recommended where animals enter throuhg one end and leave through the other. Constructing the pens on a 60-80 deg angle eliminates sharp 90 deg corners. Flooring in holding pens should be non-slip. Indoor holding pens should have even, diffuse lighting that minimizes shadows. Cattle, pigs and sheep have a tendency to move more easily from a dimly illuminated area to a more brightly illuminated area. Facilities should be designed to minimize excessive noise. In large facilities more than one unloading ramp may be required to fcilitate prompt unloading. During warm weather prompt unloading is essential because heat rapidly builds up in a stationary vehicle. Ideally, holding pens should be built at truck height to eliminate ramps. The maximum recommended angle for adjustable ramps for cattle, pigs and sheep is 25 deg. Twenty degrees is the maximum recommended angle for non-adjustable ramps. For pigs, 15 deg is recommended. Ramps should have a level dock at the top equal to one animal body length. Stairsteps are recommended on concrete ramps. Recommended dimensions are a 30 cm minimum tread width and a 10 cm rise for cattle, and a 25 cm tread wdtht and 5 cm rise for slaughter weight pigs. Both loading and unloading ramps should have solid fences. The crowd pen that leads to the ramp should also have solid sides and it must never be placed on a ramp. Crowd pens must be level. Single file, curved ramps with solid fences are very efficient for loading cattle onto trucks. Ramps used for unloading only should e 2-5 to 3 m wide to provide animals with a clear exit off the vehicle. In Denmark and other Scandinavian countries trucks used for transporting pigs are equipped with a hydraulic tailgate lift. Well designed holding pens and loading ramps can help reduce bruises and stress.

SP englisch

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